Hide & Seek (35 page)

“
Who ya’ll fools supposed to be any damned way,” Tate asked as Jaron sucked his teeth.

“
We the muthafucka’s here to close you and Ryan’s eyes forever,” Mook told him acidly.

“
Yeah, then we’ll run this city like it should be, not like some private playground for horny ass wanna be kingpins,” LaRon spat.

Mook walked over with the iron and asked Tate once more where Ryan was. “Probably fuckin’ your mama,” Tate replied smartly as Mook placed the iron squarely on his chest.

Jaron was slightly nauseated by the smell of the burning flesh as the steam rose from the iron and Tate screamed to the top of his lungs.

“
Gag this bitch,” LaRon threw out, knowing they wouldn’t get any information out of him.

Jaron immediately stuffed a pair of dirty socks he found on the floor in Tate’s mouth and taped it shut. With him subdued and quiet, LaRon, Mook and Jaron went to work. They beat him viciously, while burning his skin again and again with the iron.

“
Go find me a knife,” Mook told Jaron, who again hurried away to get what he was asked for.

Once the weapon was secured, Mook began torturing Tate again.

“
Bet you enjoyed fuckin’ Tyreece’s wife and shit didn’t you,” he asked cutting Tate deeply on his inner thigh.

“
Don’t get it twisted fool,” Mook told him looking in his eyes. “I ain’t gay, and I don’t enjoy being this close to your jewels, but I’ma make you think about the shit you did to that girl,” he told him slicing yet another deep trench. Tate was crying freely moaning in pain behind the gag.

“
Hmph, maybe he’s ready to talk afterall,” LaRon said ripping the gag from his mouth and waiting for him to speak.

“
Please,” Tate whispered in more pain than he ever thought possible.

“
Please what bitch,” Mook threw out.

“
Please kill me,” Tate replied his voice wavering.

“
Now how much fun would that be,” LaRon returned bursting into laughter as Mook and Jaron smiled.

“
Tell us where the muthafucka is,” Mook prodded once more, cutting him again as added incentive.

“
Where can we find him Tate,” LaRon tried semi-compassionately. “Hell who knows, we might let you live your life,” he added as Mook nodded slightly in agreement.

Tate didn’t know whether to believe them or not. The only thing he knew at this point in time was the pain he felt.

“
Louisiana,” he said simply the darkness starting to descend.

He’d lost too much blood, sustained too much trauma and now his body was shutting down.

“
Where in Louisiana,” LaRon tried as Tate slumped in the chair.

“
Where,” he yelled but still no response from the big man.

“
Shit,” LaRon bellowed slapped him in frustration.

That roused Tate again for a brief moment and LaRon again asked him to pinpoint Ryan’s whereabouts. Managing to hold on long enough to give them the city, Tate again lapsed into darkness.

“
Finish him, do what you want in this bitch, then get out,” LaRon told Jaron as they prepared to leave and contact Tariq letting him know what they’d found out.

Deciding he wanted a little justice for Xae’s sister, Mook turned back and walked into the room, placing the .9mm against Tate’s temple and pulling the trigger. He removed the gun, aiming lower and place five rounds. Satisfied Mook left the room as Jaron began the clean up and he and LaRon headed back to the apartment.

*****

DeNoah called Xae immediately after disconnecting with Role. He wasn’t stupid. DeNoah knew this had to be a set up. Role had been missing in action for weeks. Top already told them Ice had him and DeNoah believed him.

“
Targets gonna be in sight tonight,” he told Xae once the man answered. “Meet me at the steakhouse again, 10:45PM,” DeNoah continued to talk.

Xae told him he would meet him there and hung up. DeNoah continued to think after the call just how exactly they would get to Role. He knew for a fact that if this was a trap, and he was sure it was, that Ice would have plenty of men in place to kill them.
Exactly why I’m not gonna show up like he thinks,
DeNoah continued thinking as he called LaRon. He needed just a little help with the details on this one.

“
Wassup,” LaRon answered when the call connected.

DeNoah told him all the developments as he listened quietly.

“
Hmph,” LaRon threw back one DeNoah stopped talking. “I been in Pink Panty’s, the set up isn’t too bad,” he mused aloud. “Okay here’s the deal,” he began as DeNoah paid rapt attention.

“
Make sure the gun isn’t visible,” LaRon told him. “They don’t pat you down, but they do look you over,” he clarified as DeNoah told him he understood.

Talking a few moments more adding the finishing touches to the plan LaRon disconnected leaving DeNoah sighing deeply as he headed to the shower and his night out. If everything went according to plan, there would be one less loose end at the conclusion of the night.

29

Tariq was listening intently as LaRon gave him the rundown on the events in Mississippi.

“
Let Jaron run it for a minute,” he told him. “I need you and Mook to hit Louisiana before Ryan catches wind of Tate being dead.”

LaRon told him he agreed and they were leaving in about three hours headed that way.

“
Want to go by the clubs, let everyone know Jaron is in charge, shit like that,” he  told Tariq who grunted his understanding.

“
Deuce,” Tariq began again seriously.

“
Yeah Top, wassup.”

“
This is your call when you find Ryan,” he told him the meaning clear in LaRon’s mind.

He knew the pact they’d made in time past and now Tariq was fulfilling his promise. “Thanks Top,” he said simply.

“
Top, you heard anything from DeNoah about why Freight would be following’ Kim,” LaRon began anew as Mook regarded him now with interest.

Tariq frowned slightly. This was the first he’d heard of any of this.

“
No,” he replied edgily. “I didn’t know he’d been following her,” he went on. “How long has it been going on?”

LaRon handed Mook the cell and he gave Tariq all the information he had on the situation.

“
I’m sorry about the baby, Mook,” Tariq replied sympathetically. “But I agree with you that something’s going on,” he went on thoughtfully. “I need to have a talk with DeNoah and see just what he’s heard,” Tariq told him as Mook gave his understand before enlightening Tariq of DeNoah’s assignment for the night. “Good, glad we finally found that snake,” he replied angrily. “DeNoah knows to be careful, right,” he asked as both Mook and LaRon told him yes.

The phone was now on speaker as they all continued to converse.

“
Do you want me to go check on Tweety,” Tariq asked.

“
You could send Tank,” LaRon returned.

“
OK, I’ll do that,” Tariq again replied. “We’re almost home,” he told the two men. “We get rid of these two and it’s done, shit is on track and we can all live our lives,” Tariq informed them as they murmured agreement.

“
We’re gonna grab a nap Top, then we’re headed to the Bayou and Mr. Ryan Bailey,” LaRon told him the venom in his voice potently obvious.

“
I’m gonna check on Kim too, Mook,” Tariq assured him as Mook thanked him. “Call me when ya’ll get there,” Tariq added as the men responded they would and disconnected.

“
What were you talking about check on Tweety,” Kaitlyn asked, making no attempt to hide her eavesdropping.

“
She’s at home alone,” Tariq replied simply.

Taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly, Kaitlyn addressed him again.

“
Tariq,” she began giving him a look. “You need to tell me what the hell is going on.”

He looked wordlessly for a few moments, gathering his own composure.

“
Right now, you don’t need to know that,” he told her calmly.

Kaitlyn lost it. “What the fuck are you talking about,” she screamed at him. “That’s my bestfriend, what the hell have you done to her,” she continued to rant as Tariq stood firm, not budging.

“
Fuck it, I’ll go find her for myself,” Kaitlyn railed walking toward the front door.

Tariq grabbed her, spinning her around and holding both arms.

“
You are not leaving this damned house,” he admonished angrily.

“
I’m a grown ass woman, you can’t keep me here if I don’t wanna be here,” Kaitlyn threw back, not backing down.

“
KiKi, dammit, I ain’t hearing this bullshit today,” Tariq told her, getting angry finally. “Tweety is fine, and no one is hurting her,” he clarified once more.

“
Let me talk to her,” Kaitlyn threw back.

“
No,” Tariq replied flatly.

Sucking her teeth Kaitlyn again tried to walk by him as he picked her up and forcefully took her back into the bedroom they shared, dropping her on the bed.

Kaitlyn sprang up almost immediately as Tariq grabbed her and held her tightly. “I’m not fighting you today KiKi, calm the fuck down,” he told her as Kaitlyn continued to curse and try to get away from him.

“
Why won’t you let me talk to her,” she asked again, her emotions getting the better of her as the tears rolled down her cheek.

“
You said I wasn’t a prisoner,” she tried again as Tariq sighed deeply.

“
KiKi, baby, please, just calm down,” Tariq told her gently as he held her and she lay in his arms. “I promise everything is fine, Tweety is fine, and this will all be over soon,” he told her, kissing her gently as the end of his sentence.

“
All this hell you raising my damn baby gonna come here cussing,” he teased as Kaitlyn gave him a look.

“
What are you talking about,” she tried, scared of confirming her own fears.

“
KiKi, you haven’t had a period in the month we’ve been together,” he told her point blank. “We’ve made love everyday and not once have you said, we can’t cause my period is here.”

Kaitlyn swallowed hard but remained mute.

“
I know all this craziness is wearing on you baby,” Tariq tried again, stroking her gently. “But you promised to trust me, and that’s what I need to you to do, OK,” he asked looking into her eyes now.

Kaitlyn could only sigh deeply and nod yes as Tariq smiled and kissed her again.

“
Damn, I bet your egg even fought my seed when they got there,” he teased as Kaitlyn laughed despite herself.

“
I’m not that bad,” she told him pouting slightly.

“
Shit, you are hell on wheels KiKi,” Tariq threw back. “And I love you with my whole heart,” he added sweetly as they began to kiss passionately and make up after their fight.

*****

“
You okay,” LaRon asked as Jaleesa answered the phone.

“
Yeah, I’m fine,” she replied softly.

He’d awakened her when he called.

“
You have everything you need,” he asked once more the concern in his voice.

“
I’m fine Deuce, really,” Jaleesa told him amiably. “When are you coming home?”

LaRon sighed deeply telling her they would be gone a while longer.

“
Are you going to kill Ryan,” she asked again blindsiding him.

“
What would make you think that,” LaRon hedged.

This time Jaleesa was the one heavy sighing before speaking.

“
Deuce, I’m not new to this shit,” she told him. “Come on now, I know enough to know you’re pissed that I was with him.”

LaRon groaned slightly.

“
So answer my question,” she threw at him again.

“
Yeah,” he replied evenly.

Jaleesa heard the raw edge to his voice as she talked about Ryan. He was furious and it showed.

“
Deuce, I’m not gonna get in your business and tell you what to do,” she began as he listened intently. “So I’ll just say handle yours and be careful.”

LaRon was impressed. He thought she would plead for her ex-lover’s life or at the very least ask him if he were sure he wanted to kill Ryan.

“
That’s how you really feel,” he asked suspiciously.

“
Yeah,” Jaleesa replied. “I can’t worry about what you are or aren’t gonna do about that situation,” she continued. “I gotta worry about this baby growing inside me, and the man I’m tryna do right by.”

LaRon was speechless. “You really mean that Tweety,” he asked, almost whispering.

“
Yeah,” she answered simply.

LaRon didn’t know how to feel. He was happy that she wanted the baby now, even happy that she seemed to be interested in making them a family, but was she really over a man she’d been with for the last three years just like that?

“
I’m glad you want our family again, Tweety,” LaRon told her honestly.

“
Just been doin’ a lot of thinking Deuce,” she replied tiredly. “I guess I finally stop being mad long enough to see how much you’d sacrificed to be a part of my life again,” Jaleesa poured out. “It couldn’t have been easy to face me again, apologize and any of that after what happened with us.”